The Actors' Company

August 1972 - May 1974

"During rehearsals for 'Swan Song'Edward Petherbridge and I fantasised about a theatre company whose actors would be their own managers, sharing out the parts as a group of equals. David William, our director, challenged us to turn the dream into reality, so we wrote to likely colleagues for their input. One by one others joined in and eight months later the Actors' Company was in rehearsal for its opening season. This rapid progress was thanks to Richard Cottrell's offer to present us as part of his Cambridge Theatre Company, whose annual Arts Council grant contributed to our running costs." — Ian McKellen, October 1999